Motion-picture-printing mechanism



Sept. 4, 1928.

F. E. OILER MoTIoN PICTURE PRINTING MEcHANIsN Filed March 28, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Sept. 4, 1928.

F. E. OILER noTIoN PICTURE PRINTING MEGHANISM Filed March 28, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet ATTO/@Alfy Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES FRANK E. oILEn, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AAssIeNoR ToMAN'ToIi, INC.; or kNEW Yonex,

N. Y., A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.'V

MOTION-PICTURE-PRINTING MECHANISIVI.

Application led March 28, 1924. Serial No. 702,552.

This invention relates to improvements in printing machines for moving picture films and the primary object of the invention is to provide such apparatus for facilitating'. the transfer and improving the quality of the positive film obtained in the operation.

The printing machine comprises a light4 proof box containing an illuminator which is movable toward and from a printing window in the box by means of an externally controlled actuator. By means of this construction it is possible to vary the relative intensity of the light on the sensitive lm during the printing operation, and in order to carry this out visual means are provided comprising a window to the rear of the film through which the light may be observed and thus controlled.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved driving means for feeding the ilm past the printing window in the light box.

Further features, details and objects of the invention will appear as described in connection with the accompanying drawings and hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification, like numerals of reference designate `corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which,

Figure 1. is a vertical sectional view of a printing equipment in accordance with this invention, 'l

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the equipment showing the various exterior operating mechanisms, and

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view y through the equipment.

The printing machine comprises an eclosed casing 10 preferably of wood, aluminum, or other light material. the parts being constructed so as to be light-proof as well understood. The casing provides a .housing for an illuminator 11 such as an electricA lnegative 'and filmr is mounted. Control mechanism 17 lfor the'illuminator :is also -control mechanism 17. .As

mounted within the casing 10 and is provided with a handle 18 which projects throughthe side 19 of the casing for adjusting the light from the exterior of the casing. f

In construction of the machine, the lamp 11 is mounted in its socket 20 in a movable block 21. This block is positioned on angle guide brackets 22 and 23 mounted horizontally on the sides 19 and 24 respectively of the casing and substantially mid wa up therein. The lamp socket 20 is provi ed with lexible leads 25 which pass through a bushing 26 in the rear of the cas ing 10 to suitable switches and source of current supply (not shown). A connector member 27 is secured in one end of block 21 which couples the illuminator with its mechanism comprises a lever'28 having a slot 29 which engages with the connector member 27 at one end, and at its other end it -is secured to a pivot member 30 which extends through the sides of that casing and upon which lthe handle 18 is mounted.

The unexposed positive film B and negative A are drawn from their respective holders 14 and 15 over a guide roller 31 mounted on the top of the casing where they are brought into engagement with each other. From this point they are drawn'by the window 12 for the light exposure, and from there they pass through the feeding mechanism 16 after which they are separated and the film B is passed ready for the developing process. f 1 The window 12, as shown, comprises a rectangular opening in the end 13 of thev casing in which is secured a correspondingly shaped piece of ground glass 32. On the outer side of the end casing member is fastened a block v33 which holds the ground glass in place from that side and provides a spacer member for guidingthe lm and negative at a proper distance' from the ground glass. Thisiblock likewise has a rectangular opening 34 converging toward its outer face and having a width suiicient to expose a film of the standard width to the 39 which engage these edges of the-glass for retaining the glass 35 in positiom l' f y The window 12 also has a door 40 hinged at 41 adjacent to the side 19. of thecasing and adapted to be swung to closed position, as shown, after the negative and'film have been properly placed across the window glass 35, and held inesuch position by means of a retainer member 42, such as a spring or hook. The upper and lower edges of the door are beveled or rounded at 43 and 44, and the inner side of the door as well as these rounded portions is lined with sheet metal 45, such' as tin and the lining is secured in position by means of screws y red glass.

46 in the upper and lower edges of the door.

The door has its cooperating rectangular.

opening 47 and the lining 45 projects somewhat within the opening so as to engage beveled edges 48 of a piece glass 49, preferably The glass 49 is urged inwardly l,by means of springs '504 fastened to plates 51 secured at their ends with screws 52 to the door 40. It will be noted' that the beveled edges of the door 40 and glasses 35 and 49 will guide the negative and film in their courseand that the springs 50 press them into close contact during the exposure.

Passing from the window 12', the feeding mechanism 16 comprises a pair of sprocket wheels 53 mounted on a shaft 54 which has a crank handle 55 for rotating it.V Below these sprocket wheels 53 land cooperating therewith are guide wheels 56 grooved to receive the sprocket teeth and having outerV cylindrical portions which cooperate with similar portions ofthe sprocket wheels. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the negative and film pass between these sprocket and guide wheels, with the sprocket teeth passing through-the outer edges of them so that by rotation ofl the shaft 54 with handle 55, the film and negative are fed positively through the machine.

In order to feed the film and negative at a uniform speed a fly wheel 57 maybe provided. On the end of shaft 54 is a large gear 58 which is adapted to drive a small gear 59 secured on the end of a shaft 60 to which the fly wheel is fastened. By this means the film may be fed through the machine more uniformly and a more even exposure made as will readily be seen. K f

The operation of the machine will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It will readily be seen that vduring the operation of the equipment the operator may turn the handle 55 for feeding the film and negative through with his right hand, and while watching the window 12, control the illumination by means of handle 18 with his left hand so as to increase the illumination where the negative is overexposed or too dense and diminish it where the negative is weak while the machine is feeding at a constant speed. In this way the illumination may be increased or diminished gradually between `the `ing for adjusting The advantages of the sight method for .o

regulating the exposure and of various mechanical construction will readily present themselves to those skilled in the art.

The equipment disclosed in the form shown in the drawings is adapted for` use in a dark room, but, obviously an exterior casing might be provided and means for observing the intensity of illumination passing through the negative to the ilm under such conditions, as well as other minor changes .in the exact construction of the equipment. It is not desired to have the invention limited to the specific embodiments shown, it being understood that various changes may be made without de'partinr frim the spirit of the invention as indicated (by the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed as the invention and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is 1. A printing machinecomprising a casing having a window in one of its walls, guide members within the casing extending toward and away from said window, an i1- luminator having a mounting on said guide members permitting movement of the illuminator in the line of the window, a lever connected with said mounting having an operating handle to the exterior of the casthe position of the illuminator, a ground glassy diffuser mounted within the window, a spacer member beyond said ground glass provided with means for guiding positive and negative films and holding them in contact and provided with means for permitting the inspection ofthe film during its exposure, and means for feeding the film past the window.

' 2. An exposure window for printing machines comprising a frame construction having a rectangular opening, aground glass diffuser mounted in the opening, a spacer member over the diffuser provided with a similar opening recessed around its outer sides, a glass cover mounted in the latter recess with means for retaining it in position, and a frame construction beyond said spacer provided with a rectangular opening similar to the aforesaid openings, said las1 named frame construction carrying a glass memberin its opening forming a rear cove] member and provided with means for press ing said glass toward said first glass cover 3. A printing machine comprising a cas ing having a window in one of its walls, a1 illuminator within said casing and having therein a mounting permitting movemen toward and away from said window, mean exterior of thecasing but connected with said mounting for adjusting the position of the illuminator, a ground glass diffuser mounted Within the Window, a spaced member beyond said ground glass provided With means for guiding positive and negative films and holding them in Contact and provided With means for permitting the inspection of the film during its exposure, and means for feeding the iilm past the Window.

4. An exposure' Window for printing machines comprising a frame construction having a rectangular opening, a ground glass diffuser mounted lin the opening, a spacer member over the diffuser provided with a 15 similar opening, and an lopposing frame construction -beyond said spacer provided with a rectangular opening similar to the aforesaid openings, said opposing frame construction carrying a glass member in its opening forming a cover member and provided with means for pressing said glass member and thereby the `lms toward said glass diffuser and against the spacer.

In testimony whereof I hereunto 'affix my 2.5

signature.

FRANK E. OILER. 

